he place. You were
lucky in coming to me. Do you know me?"

"No," I answered, willing to flatter him; "but you look as if you
would know what I want."

"Aha!" he exclaimed, pluming himself. "You were right, perfectly
right. You have only to follow me," and he led the way down the
corridor, and, unlocking a door, he motioned me to enter. I drew
back as a rush of music and voices and the warm air of the ball-room
swept out.

"Do not be afraid," he whispered, "this is curtained off. You can
stay here for an hour if you like, no one will come through before
then; only, when you leave, be sure and turn the key again, and
bring it to me."

I thanked him, and he left, closing the door noiselessly behind
him; and then approaching the curtains, I carefully parted them,
and looked out on the ball-room.

CHAPTER XXI

I AWAKE FROM MY DREAM

It was a scene that would have done credit to a much larger centre
than Quebec. It is true the walls were bare of any fitting decoration,
the windows too small to break them with any effect, the chandeliers
mean in size, and the sconces but makeshifts; still, the room was
imposing in its proportions and the company brilliant.

I recognised the Intendant without difficulty. He was a small man,
delicately formed, and wore his dark red hair with but little
powder. He was most handsomely dressed, his carriage was dignified
and easy, and the charm of which Angelique had spoken was at once
apparent; I quite understood how one might forget the plain, sickly
face, marked by the traces of excess, for it was frank and open,
and one could not but acknowledge its strength.

I saw, too, M. Poulariez, looking very handsome in his new white
uniform of the Royal Rouissillon; the Major Joannes, and others
whom Angelique had described, or we had seen from our windows on
their way to one or other of the three divinities of the rue du
Parloir. They were all there, vying with each other, Mme. de
Lanaudiere, Mme. de Beaubassin, and Mme. Pean, and though their
dresses were doubtless far behind the mode, they were all three
noticeable women, and dressed with discretion.

At the opposite end were the musicians, whose efforts were
surprisingly good; and in a long gallery down one side stood the
onlookers, crowding it to its utmost capacity. Angelique sate the
centre of an animated group at no great distance from where I was
hidden, and her evident delight in the merry trifling that went on
about her